JP7388922B2 - Interdental cleaning tool - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an interdental cleaning tool for cleaning between teeth.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, interdental cleaning tools suitable for cleaning the interdental spaces of back teeth have been known (for example, see Patent Document 1). The interdental cleaning tool described in Patent Document 1 includes a handle portion (corresponding to a “gripping portion” in this application) as a handle that can be grasped with fingers, and a core portion (corresponding to a “grip portion” in this application) extending from the handle portion. A cleaning part for interdental cleaning located on the distal end side of the "shaft part"). By inserting the cleaning part between the teeth and moving it back and forth, it is possible to remove foreign objects caught between the teeth (food particles, etc.) and foreign objects (plaque, etc.) attached to the teeth.

The cleaning part of the interdental cleaning tool described in Patent Document 1 is configured by integrally molding a cleaning part main body made of an elastomer material on the distal end side of a core part made of synthetic resin. The portion of the core portion covered by the cleaning portion main body is formed into a gentle taper shape whose diameter decreases from the base end side to the distal end side. The cleaning unit main body includes a covering portion that covers a core portion, and a plurality of protrusions that are formed to protrude outward at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the covering portion.

International Publication No. 2014/065368

In the interdental cleaning tool described in Patent Document 1, the wall thickness (thickness) of the covering portion of the cleaning part main body is substantially constant from the distal end side to the proximal end side (see FIG. 3 of Patent Document 1). On the other hand, since the core is formed in a gentle taper shape that decreases in diameter as it goes from the proximal end to the distal end, the outer diameter of the cleaning section including the core and covering section is It gradually increases in size as you move towards it. Since there is a limit to the outer diameter of the cleaning section that can be inserted between the teeth, in the configuration of the cleaning section described in Patent Document 1, it is not possible to increase the length of the cleaning section main body that can be inserted between the teeth and moved back and forth. Have difficulty. If the length of the cleaning part body is short, the cleaning ability of the interdental cleaning tool may be insufficient.

In order to increase the length of the cleaning part body in the configuration of the interdental cleaning tool described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to reduce the outer diameter of the core part or reduce the thickness of the entire covering part. If the outer diameter of the core is made smaller, it will be difficult to secure the strength necessary for the cleaning part of the interdental cleaning tool, and if the thickness of the entire covering part is made thinner, the entire cleaning part body, including the covering part, will be filled with elastomer. becomes difficult to do.

Furthermore, if a part of the cleaning part with a large outer diameter is inserted between the teeth and moved back and forth, there is a risk that a part of the cleaning part body may tear off and break due to the frictional resistance between the cleaning part body and the teeth. .

Therefore, it is desirable to have an interdental cleaning tool suitable for cleaning the interdental space of molars, which has a longer cleaning part body to increase its cleaning ability while ensuring the strength of the cleaning part. ing.

An interdental cleaning tool according to one aspect of the present invention includes a main body having a base and a shaft disposed on one end side of the base, and an elastic material having a hardness lower than that of the main body, a cleaning part main body that covers a predetermined length from the tip of the shaft part toward the base part and has an outer shape that allows insertion between the teeth, the cleaning part main body covers the predetermined length of the shaft part. It consists of a covering part in close contact with the entire circumference, and a brush part having a plurality of bristles protruding outward from the covering part, and the covering part has a first covering part and a first covering part extending from the tip toward the base. 2 covering parts are arranged in this order, and the second covering part is characterized in that a degree of diameter expansion in a direction from the tip toward the base is smaller than the degree of diameter expansion of the first covering part. .

In this interdental cleaning tool, since the degree of diameter expansion of the second covering part in the direction from the tip to the base is smaller than the degree of diameter expansion of the first covering part, the outward expansion of the covering part in the direction from the tip to the base is smaller. Spreading is suppressed in the second covering part compared to the first covering part. As a result, even if the cleaning part main body (second covering part) is lengthened, the diameter of the cleaning part main body is not excessively expanded, and the entire cleaning part main body can be inserted between the teeth for cleaning. Thereby, it is possible to ensure a large stroke amount of the cleaning part main body that can be inserted between the teeth, thereby increasing the cleaning ability of the interdental cleaning tool.

In addition, with this interdental cleaning tool, there is no need to reduce the outer diameter of the shaft in order to increase the stroke amount of the cleaning part body, so the strength required for the cleaning part of the interdental cleaning tool can be maintained. . Further, since there is no need to reduce the thickness of the entire covering section, the entire cleaning section main body including the covering section can be filled with the elastomer.

Furthermore, even if the cleaning part body is lengthened, the diameter of the cleaning part body will not be excessively expanded, so when inserting the cleaning part body between the teeth, it is possible to reduce the frictional resistance between the cleaning part body and the teeth. This can prevent part of the cleaning unit main body from tearing off and breaking during cleaning. In this way, in an interdental cleaning tool that cleans between the teeth of back teeth, the cleaning ability is increased by increasing the length of the cleaning part body while ensuring the strength of the cleaning part consisting of the shaft part and the cleaning part body. We were able to provide interdental cleaning tools.

As another configuration, it is preferable that a portion of the shaft portion of the main body covered by the cleaning unit main body has a linear taper from the base toward the tip.

In this way, the portion of the shaft portion covered by the cleaning unit main body has a linear taper from the base toward the tip, so that the covering portion can be easily formed into a desired external shape, and the covering portion can be easily formed into a desired external shape. can be brought into close contact with the shaft.

As another configuration, it is preferable that a portion of the shaft portion of the main body covered by the second covering portion and an outer circumferential surface of the second covering portion are parallel to the axis of the shaft portion.

In this way, since the portion of the shaft portion covered by the second covering portion and the outer circumferential surface of the second covering portion are parallel to the axis of the shaft portion, the outer diameter of the second covering portion can be adjusted from the tip. It does not spread outward in the direction toward the base, and no matter how long the cleaning part main body (second covering part) is, the entire cleaning part can be easily inserted between the teeth for cleaning. In addition, since it is possible to further reduce the frictional resistance between the cleaning part body and the teeth when the cleaning part is inserted between the teeth, it is possible to greatly reduce the chance of part of the cleaning part body tearing off and breaking during cleaning. can be suppressed to

As another configuration, it is preferable that the thickness of the second covering portion becomes gradually thinner in a direction from the tip toward the base.

In this way, the material cost of the elastic material can be saved, so the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Furthermore, even if the portion of the shaft portion covered by the cleaning unit main body is linearly tapered, the outer diameter of the second covering portion is not expanded in accordance with the taper.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an interdental cleaning tool according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing the cleaning unit main body according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing a cleaning unit main body according to a modification of the first embodiment. It is a top view which shows the interdental cleaning tool based on another embodiment.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, embodiment of the interdental cleaning tool based on this invention is described based on drawing. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof.

[First embodiment]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the interdental cleaning tool D according to the present embodiment has a main body A in which a base portion 1 having a grip portion 11 and an extending portion 12, a bent portion 2, and a shaft portion 3 are integrally molded. The cleaning part main body 4 is made of a soft member made of an elastic material having a hardness lower than that of the main body A, and covers the shaft part 3. Hereinafter, the portion of the shaft portion 3 covered by the cleaning portion main body 4 and the cleaning portion main body 4 will be collectively referred to as a cleaning portion B. A user uses the interdental cleaning tool D by holding the grip part 11, inserting the cleaning part B between teeth such as back teeth, and moving it back and forth. Hereinafter, the interdental cleaning tool D will be described with the outer side of the bend from the base 1 to the bent part 2 (on the right side of the paper in FIG. 1) as the dorsal side, and the inner side of the bend (on the left side on the paper in FIG. 1) as the ventral side.

The main body A is made of one or a combination of two or more synthetic resins such as polypropylene, ABS, polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, and polyacetal. The main body A in this embodiment is made of polypropylene. Further, it is preferable that the synthetic resin constituting the main body A contains a reinforcing agent to increase rigidity. Examples of reinforcing agents include fibrous reinforcing agents such as glass fiber, nanocellulose fiber, aramid fiber, and carbon fiber, plate-like reinforcing agents such as mica and glass frames, powdered reinforcing agents such as talc, and wollastonite. Needle-shaped reinforcing agents are mentioned. The content of the reinforcing agent is 5% by weight or more and 50% by weight or less, preferably 10% by weight or more and 40% by weight or less, and more preferably 15% by weight or more and 40% by weight or less.

The soft member that is the material of the cleaning section main body 4 is made of an elastomer having a hardness lower than that of the main body A. As this elastomer, styrene-based elastomer is preferable, and silicone, olefin-based elastomer, polyester-based elastomer, etc. may also be used.

In the main body A, the extending portion 12 is configured in the shape of a flat rod extending from the grip portion 11 in the first direction Xa. Further, the bent part 2 extends from the end of the extending part 12 on the opposite side to the grip part 11, and intersects with the first direction Xa from the first direction Xa (in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the bent inner angle is 120 degree) It has a flat shape bent toward the second direction Xb. The intersecting angle (internal bending angle) between the first direction Xa and the second direction Xb is 30 degrees or more and 150 degrees or less, preferably 80 degrees or more and 140 degrees or less, and more preferably 100 degrees or more and 130 degrees or less. It's good to be there.

Approximately half of the extending portion 12 and bent portion 2 of the main body A on the back side is formed with a back portion 5 covered with a soft member. Approximately half of the extending portion 12 and bent portion 2 of the main body A on the ventral side are exposed to the synthetic resin.

In the main body A, the shaft portion 3 is formed in the shape of a truncated conical rod that gradually tapers along the second direction Xb from the end opposite to the extending portion 12 with respect to the bent portion 2 (Fig. reference). In the present embodiment, the overall outer shape of the shaft portion 3 is such that the diameter decreases at a constant rate from the connecting portion with the bent portion 2 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “base end”) toward the tip. ) has a tapered surface (an example of a linear taper) 31.

The cleaning section main body 4 made of a soft material covers the entire outer circumferential surface of the shaft section 3 and has an outer shape that allows insertion between the teeth, and together with the shaft section 3 constitutes a cleaning section B. The cleaning section main body 4 in this embodiment includes a covering section 41 that covers the whole of the shaft section 3 in the longitudinal direction (direction along the second direction The brush part 42 has bristles. The covering portion 41 has a wall thickness (thickness) smaller than the diameter of the shaft portion 3. The brush portion 42 is formed in a conical shape that becomes tapered as it moves away from the covering portion 41 (as it goes radially outward with respect to the axis X of the shaft portion 3). In the interdental cleaning tool D according to this embodiment, when the cleaning part B is inserted between the teeth, the bristles of the brush part 42 are flexibly deformed, and the covering part 41 and the brush part 42 are in contact with the teeth. It is possible to remove foreign substances present between the teeth (food particles, etc.) and foreign substances attached to the teeth (dental plaque, etc.). A rear surface portion 5 formed in approximately the rear half of the extending portion 12 and the bent portion 2 is integrally formed with the cleaning portion main body 4. Note that the cleaning section main body 4 may have a structure that covers a portion of the shaft section 3 from the tip thereof in the longitudinal direction of the shaft section 3.

Next, a method for manufacturing the interdental cleaning tool D according to this embodiment will be described. The interdental cleaning tool D is manufactured by a two-color molding method in which the cleaning part main body 4 and the like are molded onto the shaft part 3 of the main body A made of synthetic resin by a known method such as injection molding. Specifically, first, the main body A is formed by a known method such as injection molding. Next, the formed main body A is placed in a mold for two-color molding, and molten elastomer is injected into the mold from a gate provided near the tip of the shaft portion 3 of the main body A to fill it. The filled molten elastomer solidifies and becomes a soft member, forming the cleaning section main body 4 and the back surface section 5. In this way, the interdental cleaning tool D is manufactured.

Next, the structure of the cleaning part main body 4 of the interdental cleaning tool D according to this embodiment will be described in detail. As described above, the cleaning part main body 4 of the interdental cleaning tool D includes a covering part 41 that covers the entire circumference and a predetermined length of the shaft part 3 and is in close contact with the shaft part 3, and a plurality of parts (a large number of parts) that protrude outward from the covering part 41. The brush part 42 has bristles. As shown in FIG. 2, the covering portion 41 includes a first covering portion 411, a second covering portion 412, and a boundary portion 413 that is a boundary portion between the first covering portion 411 and the second covering portion 412. In order to facilitate understanding of the structure of the cleaning unit main body 4, in FIG. It is shown larger than the interdental cleaning tool D. In this embodiment, the "predetermined length" of the covering portion 41 is 10 mm to 30 mm, preferably 15 mm to 25 mm, and more preferably 15 to 20 mm.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first covering part 411 covers the tapered surface 31 of the shaft part 3. That is, the taper angle of the first covering portion 411 is the same as the taper angle θ of the tapered surface 31 of the shaft portion 3. In other words, the thickness of the first covering portion 411 is constant. Therefore, the outer diameter of the first covering portion 411 increases from the distal end to the proximal end of the shaft portion 3.

The second covering part 412 extends from the end of the first covering part 411 to the proximal end side via the boundary part 413. The second covering portion 412 is covered at an angle smaller than the taper angle θ of the tapered surface 31 of the shaft portion 3. In this embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the second covering part 412 is formed parallel to the axis X of the shaft part 3. That is, the degree of diameter expansion of the second covering part 412 in the direction from the distal end to the proximal end side of the shaft part 3 is smaller than the degree of diameter expansion of the first covering part 411, and the diameter of the second covering part 412 is not expanded. The wall thickness of the portion 412 becomes thinner from the boundary portion 413 toward the proximal end side. Here, "diameter expansion" means that the outer diameters of the first covering part 411 and the second covering part 412 become larger from the distal end of the shaft portion 3 toward the proximal end side. Furthermore, the "degree of diameter expansion" refers to the first covering part 411 (or the first covering part 411 (or The "degree of diameter expansion" refers to how much the outer diameter of the first covering part 411 (or the second covering part 412) at the end point of the proximal line segment has expanded relative to the outer diameter of the second covering part 412). ”. This "degree of diameter expansion" can be expressed by length (difference in absolute value of outer diameter) or by ratio (ratio of difference in absolute value of outer diameter).

In this way, in the interdental cleaning tool D according to the present embodiment, the degree of diameter expansion of the second covering portion 412 in the direction from the distal end to the proximal end side of the shaft portion 3 is greater than the degree of diameter expansion of the first covering portion 411. Since the second covering part 412 is also smaller, the outward spread of the covering part 41 in the direction from the tip of the shaft part 3 toward the base part 1 is suppressed in the second covering part 412 compared to the first covering part 411 . As a result, even if the cleaning part main body 4 (second covering part 412) is lengthened, the diameter of the cleaning part main body 4 is not excessively expanded, and the entire cleaning part main body 4 can be inserted between the teeth for cleaning. Thereby, a large stroke amount of the cleaning part main body 4 that can be inserted between the teeth can be ensured, and the cleaning ability of the interdental cleaning tool D can be improved. In particular, in the interdental cleaning tool D according to the present embodiment, since the outer circumferential surface of the second covering part 412 is parallel to the axis X of the shaft part 3, the outer diameter of the second covering part 412 varies from the distal end to the proximal end. It does not spread outward in the direction toward the sides, and no matter how long the cleaning section main body 4 (second covering section 412) is, the entire cleaning section B can be easily inserted between the teeth for cleaning. be able to. This makes it possible to reduce the frictional resistance between the cleaning part main body 4 and the teeth when the cleaning part main body 4 is inserted between the teeth, so even if the cleaning part main body 4 is long, it can be cleaned during cleaning. Part of the main body 4 can be prevented from tearing and breaking.

In the interdental cleaning tool D according to this embodiment, there is no need to reduce the outer diameter of the shaft part 3 in order to increase the stroke amount of the cleaning part main body 4, so it is not necessary for the cleaning part B of the interdental cleaning tool D. strength can be maintained. Further, since it is not necessary to reduce the thickness of the covering portion 41 as a whole, the entire cleaning section main body 4 including the covering portion 41 can be filled with the elastomer.

In the interdental cleaning tool D according to this embodiment, the thickness of the second covering part 412 becomes gradually thinner as it goes from the boundary part 413 toward the proximal end, so that the material cost of the elastomer can be reduced. Further, the outer diameter of the second covering portion 412 is not expanded to match the taper angle θ of the tapered surface 31. Since the first covering part 411 and the second covering part 412 are formed on the tapered surface 31 which is a linear taper, the cleaning part main body 4 can be formed in close contact with the shaft part 3.

[Modification of the first embodiment]
Next, an interdental cleaning tool D according to a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described using FIG. 3. This modification differs from the first embodiment only in the shape of the shaft portion 3 and the covering portion 41 of the cleaning section main body 4, and the other configurations are the same as the first embodiment.

Different from the first embodiment, the shaft portion 3 of the interdental cleaning tool D according to this modification is parallel to the axis X along the second direction Xb (toward the tip) from the connecting portion with the bent portion 2. A cylindrical part having a parallel surface 32 which is an outer circumferential surface, and a tapered truncated conical rod-shaped part having a tapered surface 31 whose diameter decreases at a constant rate toward the tip. have.

The covering portion 41 of the cleaning portion main body 4 of the interdental cleaning tool D according to this modification has a uniform thickness throughout. That is, the thickness of the first covering portion 411 formed on the tapered surface 31 of the shaft portion 3 is the same as the thickness of the second covering portion 412 formed on the parallel surface 32, and the thickness of the second covering portion 412 formed on the parallel surface 32 is the same. The wall thickness is the same from the boundary portion 413 toward the proximal end. In other words, the parallel surface 32 of the shaft portion 3 and the outer peripheral surface of the second covering portion 412 are parallel to the axis X of the shaft portion 3. Also in this modification, in order to facilitate understanding of the structure of the cleaning unit main body 4, in FIG. The slope of the interdental cleaning tool D is shown to be larger than that of the actual interdental cleaning tool D. Note that also in this modification, the "predetermined length" of the covering portion 41 is 10 mm to 30 mm, preferably 15 mm to 25 mm, and more preferably 15 to 20 mm.

In this way, in the interdental cleaning tool D according to this modification, since the parallel surface 32 of the shaft portion 3 and the outer circumferential surface of the second covering portion 412 are parallel to the axis X of the shaft portion 3, the second The covering part 412 does not spread outward even from the boundary part 413 toward the proximal end, and no matter how long the cleaning part main body 4 (second covering part 412) is, the entire cleaning part B cannot be expanded. It can be easily inserted between teeth for cleaning. Furthermore, since it is possible to reduce the frictional resistance between the cleaning part main body 4 and the teeth when the cleaning part B is inserted between the teeth, a part of the cleaning part main body 4 can be torn off and broken during cleaning. can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the shaft portion 3 has a cylindrical portion, the strength necessary for the cleaning portion B can be maintained.

[Other embodiments]
(a) In the interdental cleaning tool D according to the first embodiment and its modification, the outer diameter of the second covering part 412 was parallel to the axis X of the shaft part 3, but the outer diameter of the first covering part 411 was parallel to the axis X of the shaft part 3. If the degree of diameter expansion of the second covering portion 412 is smaller than the degree of diameter expansion, the second covering portion 412 may have a shape whose diameter increases from the boundary portion 413 toward the proximal end side. Even if the cleaning part main body 4 has such a shape, it is compared with a shape having a second covering part 412 that expands in diameter at the same taper angle as the first covering part 411 in the direction from the distal end of the shaft part 3 toward the proximal end side. As a result, outward expansion of the second covering portion 412 is suppressed, so even if the cleaning portion main body 4 is lengthened, the entire cleaning portion main body 4 can be inserted between the teeth for cleaning.

(b) In the interdental cleaning tool D according to the first embodiment, the outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion 3 covered with the second covering portion 412 extends from the connecting portion between the bent portion 2 and the shaft portion 3 to the boundary portion 413. It was a tapered surface 31 whose diameter decreases (reduces) at a constant rate toward the surface. Furthermore, in the interdental cleaning tool D according to the modification of the first embodiment, the outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion 3 covered with the second covering portion 412 is a boundary from the connecting portion between the bent portion 2 and the shaft portion 3. It was a parallel surface 32 parallel to the axis X of the shaft portion 3 toward the portion 413 . However, as long as the degree of diameter expansion of the second covering part 412 in the direction from the distal end of the shaft part 3 toward the proximal end side is smaller than the degree of diameter expansion of the first covering part 411, the second covering part 412 is covered. The outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion 3 may be a tapered surface whose diameter increases (expands) at a constant rate from the connecting portion between the bent portion 2 and the shaft portion 3 toward the boundary portion 413. With such a configuration, it is possible to provide an interdental cleaning tool having a cleaning portion B with more elasticity.

(c) As shown in FIG. 4, the interdental cleaning tool D does not have the bent part 2 of the first embodiment, and the base part 1 having the grip part 11 and the extending part 12 and the shaft part 3 are It may be configured by a linear body A that is integrally molded. In the interdental cleaning tool D according to this embodiment, the cleaning part main body 4 is formed only in a part (an example of a predetermined length) from the tip of the shaft part 3. The shapes of the shaft portion 3 and the cleaning portion main body 4 at this time can take any of the above-described first embodiment, its modification, and other different embodiments (a). As described above, the shape of the main body A is arbitrary as long as the shapes of the shaft portion 3 and the cleaning section main body 4 are as described above.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention can be utilized for the interdental cleaning tool which cleans between the teeth of back teeth.

1 : Base part 3 : Shaft part 4 : Cleaning part main body 5 : Back part 11 : Grip part 12 : Extension part 41 : Coating part 42 : Brush part 411 : First covering part 412 : Second covering part A : Main body D : Interdental cleaning tool

Claims (4)

a main body having a base and a shaft disposed on one end of the base;
a cleaning part main body made of an elastic material having a hardness lower than that of the main body, covering a predetermined length from the tip of the shaft part toward the base part, and having an outer shape that can be inserted between the teeth;
The cleaning unit main body includes a covering part that is in close contact with the entire circumference of the predetermined length of the shaft part, and a brush part having a plurality of bristles protruding outward from the covering part,
The covering part has a first covering part and a second covering part arranged in this order from the tip toward the base,
The second covering part is an interdental cleaning tool in which the degree of diameter expansion in the direction from the tip toward the base is smaller than the degree of diameter expansion of the first covering part. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the shaft portion of the main body that is covered by the cleaning section main body has a linear taper from the base toward the tip. The tooth gap according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the shaft portion of the main body covered with the second covering portion and an outer circumferential surface of the second covering portion are parallel to the axis of the shaft portion. Cleaning tools. The interdental cleaning tool according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the thickness of the second covering portion becomes gradually thinner in a direction from the tip toward the base.

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